Council pounded by animal welfare group

The state government is calling for input from community groups on how to reduce the number of animals that are put to sleep in pounds.

Broken Hill City Council's Strategic Animal Companion Plan says the pound euthanizes more than 80% of animals it collects.

The council hopes to reduce this figure, to 60%.

Carey Edwards from Australian Working Dog Rescue said that's not good enough.

"No, I think 60% is an absolutely horrific number," he said.

"In my opinion I think it should be a 0% rate, and they can work towards that."

"It doesn't happen overnight - a no kill policy is something that you work through through a number of years, through a series of policies that you implement."

Figures released by the state government show, on average, 70% of animals admitted to pounds are euthanased.

Broken Hill City Council's general manager, Frank Zaknich, said the council is working to reduce the number of animals euthanased in the pound.

Mr Zaknich said the council has rehoused 39 dogs and cats over the past three months.

He said zero percent is a lovely goal, but not very practical.

"The reality is because of the isaoltaion of the city, the poor practices in terms of responsible pet ownership over the years means we have this ongoing cycle of pups and kittens breeding, often unmanaged," he said.

Mr Zaknich said the council is urging people to take better care of their pets.

"We need to be mindful of the fact that these issues start at home with responsible pet ownership and management," he said.

"So, desexing, mocrocipping, vaccination as you say, are all essential things in terms of intervention."

Mr Edwards agreed responsible pet ownership is a crucial part of the equation.

He urged residents to take more of an interest in the way the council deals with animal control.

"People generally get, the communities generally get what they accept," he said.

"So if there's no awareness in the commuinty and they don't know about their council pound that is killing many many animals, then they don't act about it, they sit there and they ignore it."

Submissions on the NSW Government's Companion Animals Taskforce Discussion Paper close on 1 July 2012.